Ontario Oyster Festival Benefits Environment

Toronto—Hundreds of people celebrated the 20th Annual Oyster Festival yesterday, marking one of Toronto’s most fun and enduring charitable events.

Hosted by Rodney’s Oyster House and Ontario’s oyster community, the event has raised tens of thousands of dollars over the past two decades to fund the work of Environmental Defence.

“Few environmental charities can boast of a twenty-year relationship with an organization like Rodney’s Oyster House and the Ontario oyster community,” said Sarah Winterton, Acting Executive Director of Environmental Defence. “The Ontario Oyster Festival is how a major event on our calendar of good works for the year.”

“This celebration really has become a fixture of summer fun, shucking, live music and sustainable seafood,” said Rodney Clark, an originator and sponsor of the Festival for all of its 20 years. “We’re very proud and thankful to the oyster community and craft brewers and vintners that make this event such a success in raising funds and awareness for Environmental Defence and to protect the environment.”

This year’s event featured a presentation of a cheque for $10,000 representing the proceeds from the 2007 event and a surprise visit from one of Canada’s wrestling greats, Sweet Daddy Siki, to present the champions Oyster Robe of Honour.

“There have been too many great memories from this event to count, but the generosity of the oyster community has never failed, rain or shine,” added David Donnelly, counsel to Environmental Defence.“This may be heresy, but the Oyster Festival gets marked on my calendar every year even before March 17th!”

About Environmental Defence (www.environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence protects the environment and human health. We research solutions. We educate. We go to court when we have to. All in order to ensure clean air, clean water and thriving ecosystems nationwide, and to bring a halt to Canada’s contribution to climate change.